News & Press Releases 2010

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today that his office has filed a counterclaim lawsuit against a series of Northbrook, Ill.-based companies and a Brooklyn, N.Y.-based business, accusing the companies of engaging in deceptive trade practices and unlicensed lending.

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today that an Elbert County District Court judge has sentenced Michael Merit (DOB: 8/5/1964) of Parker to 40 days in jail for his role in contributing to the release of asbestos into the air by misleading state officials and forging lab results. Merit’s sentence follows his September guilty plea to causing or contributing to a hazardous substance incident, a class-four felony.

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers today announced that Colorado will receive more than $210,000 as part of a settlement with Elan Corporation to resolve allegations that Elan, through its subsidiary Elan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. improperly marketed its anti-epileptic drug Zonegran for off-label uses. Colorado’s recovery comes as part of a $101 million settlement that resolves allegations that Ireland-based Elan Corporation and its subsidiary promoted the sale and use of Zonegran, an anti-seizure medication, for uses not approved by the federal government.

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today that his office has joined a $13.25 million multistate settlement with DirecTV to settle allegations that the satellite television provider engaged in deceptive trade practices. Colorado will receive $185,000 under the multistate settlement.

Under the settlement, DirecTV will be required to take several steps, including:

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today that his office has joined a $21 million multistate settlement with Dannon to settle allegations that the food company made unsubstantiated claims concerning the health benefits of its Activia and DanActive products. Colorado will receive $425,000 under the multistate settlement.

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today that his office has filed a lawsuit against Assurity Financial Services, one of the company’s managing members, Calvin B. Hamler (DOB: 6/20/1973), and the company’s former managing member, Troy P. Hamler (DOB: 4/24/1972). The defendants are suspected of violating the Colorado Consumer Protection Act by using deceptive advertisements that claimed, among other things, a false affiliation with the U.S. Veterans Administration, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the homeowners’ lenders.

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today that his office has filed separate lawsuits against three businesses and five individuals accused of defrauding homeowners in Denver, Boulder, Broomfield and Adams counties through deceptive foreclosure rescue schemes.

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today that his office has filed a lawsuit against Regent Asset Management Solutions, Inc., a Denver-based debt collection agency, and its CEO, Michael A Scata (DOB: 5/6/1954), on suspicion that they engaged in the unlicensed collection of debt in Colorado and violated Colorado consumer protection statutes.

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today that he has appointed Michael T. Dougherty as the newest Deputy Attorney General to oversee the office’s Criminal Justice Section. Dougherty replaces Tom Raynes, who has been appointed to Executive Director of the Colorado District Attorney’s Council.